Civil defence service lends a hand
by Mehak Dugal
 

The civil defence service is stepping up to support communities during the Covid-19 crisis. The mainly-volunteer agency is being tasked with distributing food parcels to vulnerable people, assisting An Garda Síochána in social distancing outdoors, setting up isolation centres, and transporting food and laundry for homelessness services.

 

The civil defence service includes over 3,500 volunteers who support the Gardai and other State response agencies in emergency and non-emergency events. It is also delivering Covid-19 signage, collecting medication from pharmacies for delivery to isolated households, and undertaking a range of other activities.

 

Meanwhile, temporary assistant civil defence officers are now being recruited to enhance the service, which employs just one civil defence officer in most counties. A small number of the assistants have started this week, with more positions set to be filled shortly.

 

The assistant officers are being appointed from the ranks of senior civil defence volunteers.

 

Yesterday (Wednesday) over 50 volunteers were already delivering services. Many more are expected to join them the coming days.

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